Edna Lister’s Lectures 1943

The Now

Edna Lister lecture outline; Wednesday March 11, 1943, Seattle, Washington. Scriptures: Philippians 3:13-14, Philippians 4:13.

Man stands upon now as upon a golden parapet preparatory to flight. Will he soar up, out and around or down, straight as a shaft released to its mark or wavering without a line of direction? now is the most priceless gift of a wise, loving Father to His own. now is a moment of time that God uses to create through man. It is also that breathless moment man fills with his creations; he sends forth each now stamped with his own seal, which can return only as the created manifest. Man can fill and live but one moment, one now at a time. Will he build a mansion of stateliness and grandeur, a monument as an ensample of his Father’s generous outpouring of substance through him, or is he content to build his very “own” of materials self-chosen, the foundation of which he has built upon a plain of ever-shifting sand?

The undeviating desire, the attitude, the picture created, the thought formed, the gesture and more important, the spoken word, these we create in the now for the now to come. The seed lies in man’s own wedded desire and will, mated with imagination and determination, then waiting upon the Lord’s release of building substance. Each now, large or small in concept, will herald that creation which one day he shall place before his Father as his “work well done.” Each now is a step on the ladder of life taking him back home to his Father. Let each now be filled with a new song of praise unto Him and an added “Thank You, Father, for this now filled to the brim with the joy of creating, with Thy Strength, Thy Love and Thy Light, a new and shining tomorrow.”

“This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 3:13-14. “I can do all things now, through Christ, which strengtheneth me.” — Philippians 4:13.

Thou Shalt Love

Edna Lister lecture outline, Cleveland Philosophy Club; May 16, 1943, Cleveland, Ohio. Scriptures: Galatians 5:14, Matthew 5:43-48.

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” – Galatians 5:14.

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” – Matthew 5:43-48.

Love and peace must go hand in hand. If you have no love, you can have no peace. Love is the foundation, and peace the first-story walls of your support.

People are always seeking peace. Peace in the face of the world's turmoil is the fundamental urge of the individual, families, states, nations, and the world.

People are always breaking free from what constrains them, pushing aside barriers, and reaching up to pull themselves up. Then they build fences, walls, and levy tariffs because they fear that someone will touch or take what is theirs.

Love is the only remedy. Most of us are carrying a load of last year's drones, who are eating our soul substance.

“Thou shalt love” — it's as simple as that. Giving is the language of loving. The art of love is the desire to make others happy. The quality of your soul's love versus your self-love determines your capacity to do, to dare and to love.

Your first step in love is to let God love you completely by giving Him all of you to use. Your second step is to love your neighbors, your family and friends. Your third step is to love God again with your increased “all,” forming a perfect circle of unity with your Source.

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind.” – Matthew 10:27.

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” – Deuteronomy 6:5.

“Now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” – Deuteronomy 10:12.

To love God, to accept God's strength and His might, to walk with God as you serve means a constantly ascending consciousness. To seek the kingdom of God first is to contact all Mind, all Substance, all the creative Power of God for your miracles.

The size of all your loving determines the amount of creative Power you contact. How great is your all? Are you sure you are using your all when you love God? If you have love enough, you are perfect and have perfection now.

One day, a little boy watched a caterpillar inched along. Finally he asked, “Do you get tired, traveling so slowly?” The caterpillar answered, “No. I like to walk.”

The boy walked on, then turned back and asked, “Are you happy?” The caterpillar answered, “Yes.” The boy asked, “Where are you going?” The caterpillar said, “I am walking to my wings.”

Like the caterpillar, at it times it seems as though you only inch along your journey. Yet all the while, you are walking toward your soul wings.

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